Passionate Harvest (9 page)

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to intrude.”

“You wouldn’t be intruding. I’d really like you to meet them.” Suddenly it was important that she agreed. It would make things easier with Sasha, but it would also give him the opportunity to spend more time with Lucy. Although he tried not to think too much about the second reason.

She smiled. “If you’re sure then I’d love to meet them.”

Relief at her agreement swept through his body. “Great. I’ll fix up a day and time when they get here.”

She flashed him another smile before shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other.

“I’m sorry. We should turn back, you’ve been on your feet all day.” He whistled to Mutley as they turned to walk back the way they’d come.

When Lucy stumbled slightly on a tussock of grass he automatically placed his arm under hers to support her. It troubled him how right it felt to have Lucy walking beside him arm in arm.

Lucy was glad of Dominic’s support as they strolled slowly back to her car. The impulse which had led her to agree to his suggestion of a short walk seemed foolish now. Her calf muscles throbbed from the unaccustomed exercise of the last few days, and although her head felt better for the fresh air, her feet didn’t agree with her decision.

“When can we expect to see you in the office?” Dom asked as they halted at the side of her car.

“I’m hoping to have everything pretty well sorted out by Wednesday. Once my work contract with the travel company is done then it’s only a case of getting my things back from Tenerife and straightening out my finances at this end.”

She leaned against the bonnet of her car and worked her heels up and down to loosen the pain in her shins.

“I’ll tell Jo to expect you then. It might be good for you to spend a few weeks in the office with her so you can familiarise yourself with that end of the business first.”

He still had hold of her hand sending frissons of excitement along her arm from the contact.

“Okay.” She wondered how Jo would react to the news. Judging from what she’d overheard earlier in the afternoon Dom’s assistant didn’t appear to think very highly of her at all.

The faintly quizzical frown on his face told her he hadn’t missed the note of doubt in her reply.

“I’m sure you and Jo will be fine when you get to know one another better.”

Lucy wasn’t too sure about that but decided not to challenge his assumption. After all he knew Jo better than she did. Silence stretched between them. Lucy swallowed, acutely aware of Dom’s closeness and the gentle butterfly touch of his hand encircling her wrist.

Dizzily, she wondered if he were going to kiss her again. Empty space surrounded them, not another human being was in sight. Even the dog had disappeared from view. If he were to kiss her now, claim her mouth in the same hot, hungry manner of yesterday…

A thrill ran along her spine and she moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. Pictures flashed unbidden through her mind, shocking and thrilling sensations filled her at the direction of her thoughts. If he were to take her now. To lift her onto the sun warmed bonnet of her car, where she could wrap her legs around him and lose both her clothes and her inhibitions in the pleasure of his hard naked body pressed against her.

“Earth to Lucy?” The questioning half-smile on his lips as he called her name summoned her back to reality and she realised he must have been speaking to her.

“Sorry, I um, think it’s time I went home.” She hoped he’d put down the sudden fire in her face to weariness rather than her overheated imagination.

The wicked gleam in his eyes however suggested he’d guessed something of the direction her thoughts had taken.

“I’ll see you on Wednesday then. Call me if you need more time.” He released her hand, leaving her strangely disorientated and bereft.

“Wednesday.” She fumbled behind her for the catch on the car door, embarrassment making her eager to get away.

Just as she thought he was about to leave without kissing her, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. The bones in her legs liquefied and she entwined her hands around his neck for support. His hair curled soft against her fingers and she could taste him, hard, and male against her mouth. Her nipples tightened with desire and she lost herself in the taste of his mouth. Her recent fantasy of hot action and a naked Dominic in the deserted car park added spice to the taste of his lips.

It was only when the distant sound of his dog’s barks broke in on her that she realised what she was doing. Getting personally involved with Dominic was not a good idea for all kinds of reasons.

Shakily she pressed her fingers against the wall of his chest pushing him away even as she noted the rapid thunder of his heart beneath her fingertips.

“I have to leave. Aunt Maggie will worry about me if I’m late back.”

A flicker of some undefined emotion gleamed in his eyes as he scanned her face before the shutters came down once more leaving her unable to read his thoughts.

“I’ll expect you Wednesday morning.” He turned away and whistled for his dog.

Her legs still wobbly, Lucy let herself into her car and started the engine, unheeding of the heat that had built inside the vehicle whilst she been at work.

* * *

When she arrived home, she discovered Maggie lying on the sofa in the lounge. The unusual sight of the normally busy older woman with her feet up sent a shiver of alarm through Lucy.

“Aunt Maggie? Are you okay?” She dropped her handbag and keys down on the armchair and hurried to her side.

“Oh, I’m fine. I lay down to take a little rest and must have nodded off for a while.” She went to sit up, struggling to raise her shoulders from the couch.

“Stay there. A rest will do you good. I’ll go and pop the kettle on, shall I?” Lucy placed a tender hand on Maggie’s shoulder to persuade her to remain on the sofa.

“I won’t say no to a nice cup of tea.” The older woman smiled. “You’re a good girl, Lucy.”

Lucy smiled back, noting the tired lines on her aunt’s face. “One cup of tea coming right up.” She straightened and headed to the kitchen.

It was a good thing she’d come home to stay, vineyard or no vineyard. She would never have forgiven herself if she’d returned to Tenerife and something had happened to Maggie. It was bad enough that she hadn’t been home when Nick had been so ill.

As she waited for the kettle to boil Lucy stared out through the kitchen window at the long back garden. The garden had always been her aunt’s pride and joy. Sweeping emerald turf edged with immaculate borders of bright seasonal colour. A neat and tidy vegetable plot lay at the far end where Lucy had spent many happy summer hours sneaking strawberries, raspberries and currants sun-kissed and warm straight from the plant.

Now, even though the growing season had just begun Lucy could see signs of neglect. Weeds were showing in the lawn and the borders were unkempt and bare. She knew Maggie had spent time caring for Uncle Nick during his illness but it was quickly becoming apparent that her aunt needed some TLC too.

Lucy spent the next two days sorting out her life, arranging the packing up of her things in Tenerife and organising her finances. She also helped Maggie in the garden, acting as labourer for the heavier jobs that her aunt had been unable to manage alone.

“I’m so glad that you’re here. I’ve missed having some female company in the house.” 

Lucy smiled at her. “I’m glad to be here.”

“You’ll be fine tomorrow at the vineyard.” Maggie assured her.

“I don’t know. I hope so. I’m getting along better with Dominic, but I don’t know about Jo.” Her cheeks flushed as she mentioned Dom’s name.

Maggie’s eyes twinkled. “Dominic is hard to get to know, but Nick thought a lot of him. Jo, I don’t know so well. She started when Nick very first became ill to try to take some of the load from him but I never got to spend much time with her. She seemed pleasant enough at the funeral.”

Wednesday morning dawned and Lucy was up bright and early. She chose her outfit with care wanting to make a good impression on Jo. She squashed down the tiny part of her that suggested she wouldn’t mind impressing Dominic either as she donned her brand new navy pinstriped skirt and jacket.

Jo was already in the office bustling around watering the pot plants on the windowsill when Lucy arrived.

“Morning!” Lucy had decided on the drive to the vineyard that she would try taking the super perky approach with Jo.

“The kettle is on if you’d like a drink.” Jo continued to carefully pour water onto the plants. 

“Thanks, would you like one?” Lucy placed her bag on top of the nearest desk and walked over to the small table set up as a drinks station with kettle, mugs, teabags and coffee.

“No thank you, I only drink water.” Jo’s tone was dismissive.

Lucy decided she would probably need a large amount of caffeine just to get through the day and made herself a generous mug of coffee.

“You’re on this desk.” Jo lifted Lucy’s bag and placed it on the desk in the far corner.

Lucy sucked in a breath and mentally counted to three. “Thanks. I’m looking forward to learning all about this end of the business.” She was pleased she sounded so upbeat.

“I expect it’ll make quite a change from your last job.”

Lucy smiled sweetly. “Yes, I expect it will.”

She had the satisfaction of seeing Jo appear a little nettled that she hadn’t risen to the bait. Lucy took her place at her assigned desk and turned on the computer. Hopefully she would be able to access any electronic files and get set up with email.

“Morning.”

Intent on her task Lucy hadn’t noticed Dominic enter the room. All at once the office felt far too small for three people. 

“Morning Dom, I’ll get your coffee.” Jo put down her watering can and bustled over to the kettle.

Lucy managed to resist rolling her eyes, clamping her lips together to keep from smiling.

“Thanks. Did you manage to get your affairs in Tenerife sorted, Lucy?” Dominic perched on the corner of her desk.

A brief flutter of panic touched her as she automatically thought of Christopher before realising he simply meant her job and her flat. “Yes, I think so. My flat mate is packing up my clothes and sending them back. I should have them by the start of next week. The company weren’t too happy with me leaving at this point in the season but I think it’s all sorted out.”

Jo crossed the office to join them, handing Dominic a mug of coffee. “I wouldn’t have thought it would be too difficult to find another nursery nurse.”

“No, nursery nurses are probably easy to find but one who is fully trained in all the health and safety requirements, can be part of the entertainment staff and pass muster in three to four languages is a little harder.” Lucy kept her own tone as mild and sweet as Jo’s had been.

* * *

Dominic eyed Lucy’s neat blonde head bent once more over her computer keyboard. Jo obviously had a bug up her butt this morning. It wasn’t like her to sound so waspish, unless she felt threatened by Lucy’s presence in the office.

“It’ll be handy having someone who can speak other languages in the office. Nick used to be our link to some of our export outlets. What languages can you speak, Lucy?”

“Spanish, French, German and a good spattering of Italian.” Lucy looked up. “You have to learn quickly when you’re working with people from all over Europe.”

“Great. Jo can show you the electronic filing system and you can take a look at the records to get a feel for the business.”

Lucy smiled at him and his pulse quickened. She shouldn’t have looked sexy in her businesslike fitted navy skirt and short sleeved crisp white blouse but somehow she did. From his vantage point on the corner of her desk he could see right down the shadow of her cleavage to glimpse the white lace on the edge of her bra.

“That’ll be useful.” 

Her gaze rested expectantly on his face. “Um, I’ll pop back in at lunchtime to see how you’re getting on. I’ll leave you in Jo’s capable hands.” He needed to move from Lucy’s desk, the glimpse of her underwear and the curve of her breast were giving him unsuitable ideas.

“We’ll see you later then.” Jo’s voice called him back to the present as he realised he’d been entertaining delightful thoughts about removing Lucy’s clothing.

Jo’s face was distinctly frosty as she showed him out of the office. He hoped she and Lucy would have settled down by the time he came back, otherwise it would make for an uncomfortable year ahead.

Despite his best efforts to keep his mind on his work he was glad when the clock ticked around to lunch and he could return to the office to see Lucy. 

When he reached the office only Jo was present, still entering figures into the accounts, her brow creased with concentration.

“Where’s Lucy?” He glanced around the room.

“Gone downstairs to the café to see Isabelle. I think she’s eating her lunch there.”

“How was your morning?” He wondered how things had gone between the two women.

“Okay I suppose.” Jo shrugged. “I don’t know how much use she’ll be in the business.”

Dominic sighed, over the last few days he’d come to respect Lucy’s work ethic. “It’s early days yet. You need to give her a chance. She helped Isabelle out a lot over the weekend.”

“So I gather.” Jo’s tone was dismissive.

Dominic left Jo to finish her work and went to look for Lucy. He found her sitting at the table nearest to the counter in the café, laughing and chatting with Isabelle.

Her pretty face flushed as he entered the room and Isabelle, after raising her hand in greeting disappeared into the kitchen. He couldn’t help but suspect he might have been the topic of conversation.

“Hi.”

“Hi, how was your morning?” He’d asked Jo the same question but he was keen to hear Lucy’s version.

“All right. I’m making lots of notes to help me remember everything. It’ll save me from bothering Jo too much.”

He took the seat opposite Lucy. “Jo is there to be bothered. Ask her as many questions as you need to become familiar with everything.” Jo would have to help Lucy settle into her new role whether she liked it or not.